Shimada finishes #13 Diaz!

By Joe Koizumi

37-year-old Japanese veteran and ex-world challenger Takehiro Shimada (23-4-1, 16 KOs), 133.75, surprisingly and impressively scored an upset victory in demolishing WBA#13 Panamanian Ameth Diaz (25-9-1NC, 19 KOs), 135, at 1:47 of the fourth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Diaz, 25, had lost a unanimous decision to Joan Guzman in a WBA eliminator to decide the official challenger in Santo Domingo last December, but still remained in the WBA ratings and could fight with his hard-punching ability though less skillful and technical. From the outset Diaz threw long solid shots to attack the counterpunching Japanese. Shimada, who had failed to win the WBA 130-pound belt from Edwin Valero via sixth-round TKO last June, was fresh from the bad defeat that fractured his ribcage. The defensive Japanese, in round two, caught the aggressive Panamanian with a well-timed right cross and almost stunned him to turn the tide since. The third also saw Shimada catch him with a countering right to win another point. In the fatal fourth, the short-haired Shimada landed a wicked right cross and dropped him to the deck. Diaz barely raised himself to be obviously unavailable to go on. The ref Uratani tolled the fatal ten. It was amazing that the veteran who many fans thought he would hang up gloves after his Valero defeat thus revived his career with an unexpected triumph. Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.